Lot
2012 
California Penny Post Co., San Francisco, black circular company handstamp on 1855 cover to San Francisco with boxed "Penny-Postage Paid, 7." & "To the Penny Post Co." printed frank, franked with 1851 3¢ dull red (11A) and tied by part strike of 2nd cds; minor edge wear, Very Fine and very rare, company only existed for one year, ex-Knapp; with 2009 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 34LU11 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Lot
2013
(Gahagan & Howe) City G & H Express, blue double-lined oval handstamp with "423 Washn. St. S.E. Cor. Sansome St." address struck twice on stampless cover to Miss A. Wells, North Side Francisco, San Francisco, Very Fine and attractive.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS SHORT-LIVED COMPANY THAT DELIVERED MAIL LOCALLY IN SAN FRANCISCO.
References: Illustrated in Coburn's Letters of Gold on page 69.
Lot
2014
From Noisy Carriers. Mail., 77 Long Wharf S.F. Cal., fancy box handstamp in black on cover to Holly Springs, Mass., franked with 1851, 3¢ orange brown, horizontal pair (10A) margins large to just touching at top left, just tied by large grid handstamp, matching "San Francisco, Cal., Nov 15" cds, Extremely Fine, a scarce use with the 3¢ orange brown.Estimate $500 - 750.
Noisy Carriers acted as a forwarder in San Francisco and sent mails to the east by both the Panama and Nicaragua routes. The proprietor, Charles P. Kimball (1821-1894) was active during the period of the rate change for over 3,000 miles from 6¢ to 10¢ on April 1st 1855.
Realized: $350
Lot
2015
Pony Express, San Francisco, Dec 5, blue oval Running Pony handstamp, bold sharp strike on 1855 10¢ Nesbitt entire along with dateless blue oval handstamp "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco, Cal", light pencil "1/4" weight notation at top, entered the mails with "St. Joseph, Mo., Feb. 15" cds (1860) with matching grid handstamp canceling indicia, reverse with large green "Pony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph Mo., Dec 19" circular date stamp, opened for display, Extremely Fine, a wonderful cover with clear strike of the San Francisco "Running Pony" oval, as well as the dateless blue oval (FWK census E47), ex-E. Haub; with 2021 P.F. certificate.Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A BEAUTIFUL EASTBOUND RUNNING PONY EXPRESS USE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW YORK WITH THE EARLIEST USAGE OF THE GREEN ST. JOSEPH PONY EXPRESS DATE STAMP.
This cover was carried on the Pony Express trip leaving San Francisco on December 5, 1860, arriving 14 days later in St. Joseph on December 19, 1860 (Trip ET-54 in The Pony Express, by Frajola, Walske & Kramer, page 87).
The green St. Joseph Pony Express date stamp was introduced in the second period for use in St. Joseph. It is known, as in this instance, as a transit backstamp for a short period on eastbound mail from December 19, 1860 (as this example shows) to January 20, 1861.
Realized: $12,000
Lot
2016
Todd & Co.'s Express, bold shield shaped handstamp on folded letter to Stockton, with light pencil "2.00" express rate, 1850 dateline on lengthy letter and postmarked Purdy, Tenn with matching manuscript "40", F.-V.F. and rare.Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
2017
Wells, Fargo & Co., Los Angeles, Oct 25, two strikes of blue oval handstamp on 1864, 3¢ pink entire to San Francisco, one tying an additional 1864, 3¢ pink indicia cut out, black company frank; couple tiny edge tears, Very Fine and unusual.Estimate $300 - 400.
THIS IS A VERY RARE ILLEGAL USAGE OF A POSTAL STATIONERY CUT OUT USED BY WELLS, FARGO & CO.
Realized: $325
Lot
2018
Wells Fargo & Co., Mexican Route, blue oval handstamp with matching "Paid" in oval handstamp on cover to San Francisco Cal.; reduced slightly at top and left, couple backflaps missing, Very Fine and scarce.Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
2019
Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, "missent", blue oval handstamp with manuscript notation on 3¢ pink (U58) entire cancelled by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co., Express, Santa Cruz" oval handstamp to San Francisco Cal., printed black Wells Fargo paid frank, Extremely Fine and choice.Estimate $400 - 600.
A UNIQUE USAGE OF THE WELLS, FARGO & CO. HANDSTAMP WITH THE TOWN NAME OMITTED AND MANUSCRIPT MISSENT INSERTED.
Lot
2020
Wells, Fargo & Co., Oro Fino, Nov 4 (Siskiyou), oval forwarding datestamp ties 1861, 1¢ blue + 3¢ rose, top margin pair and single (63, 65), top margin pair and single on cover originally from Suncook N.H. to Salmon River Ore. forwarded to Oro Fino and finally to San Francisco, "Suncook N.H. Aug. 30" cds with matching cork cancels on stamps, black "Collect 50cts" oval handstamp; 1¢ corner faulty, Very Fine, ex-Hackett.Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A REMARKABLE TRANSCONTINENTAL USE FROM SUNCOOK N.H. TO SALMON RIVER ORE., FORWARDED BY WELLS FARGO & CO. TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
2021
Whiting & Co.'s Feather River Express, printed frank (Haller FW12, Ty. 2) on 1853, 3¢ Nesbitt entire uprated with 1857, 1¢ blue, type V + 3¢, dull red, pair to Massachusetts., carried by Whiting & Co. to the post office, postmarked by "Marysville Cal. Paid by Stamps May. 4" blue cds and matching waffle grids tying stamps; 1¢ with natural s.e. at right, Extremely Fine, a very scarce early usage to the mails; with 2009 P.F. certificate.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $750